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Avalanche Center posts tips on surviving ample spring snow load

While thousands of runners were wearing shorts and running Bloomsday on May 5, Gregg Smith of Spokane led his daughter, Sarah, 14, (left) and son, Michael, 17, (right) on a backcountry skiing adventure near Lookout Pass. The warm weekend weather had begun triggering spring avalanches in the heavy mountain snowpack, so the skiers carved telemark turns mostly in the trees. (Photo by Gregg Smith / The Spokesman-Review)
By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508
While thousands of runners were wearing shorts and running Bloomsday on May 5, Gregg Smith of Spokane led his daughter, Sarah, 14, (left) and son, Michael, 17, (right) on a backcountry skiing adventure near Lookout Pass. The warm weekend weather had begun triggering spring avalanches in the heavy mountain snowpack, so the skiers carved telemark turns mostly in the trees. (Photo by Gregg Smith / The Spokesman-Review)
While thousands of runners were wearing shorts and running Bloomsday on May 5, Gregg Smith of Spokane led his daughter, Sarah, 14, (left) and son, Michael, 17, (right) on a backcountry skiing adventure near Lookout Pass. The warm weekend weather had begun triggering spring avalanches in the heavy mountain snowpack, so the skiers carved telemark turns mostly in the trees. (Photo by Gregg Smith / The Spokesman-Review)

WINTER SPORTS — Even though the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center’s official reporting season ended last week, hydrologic technichian Kevin Davis was compelled to post more advice this morning after scouting the region’s winter-like snowpack this week.

Check out his full Spring Advisory , which includes tips on how to maximixe your sliding quality  — and safety — when that spring sunshine is beating down.

“We’re doing much better than last year for snowpack so your winter adventures could last well into June, depending on how the snow comes off,” Davis said in his opening remarks to the advisory.

“Silver Mountain was reporting large avalanches with their explosive control last Sunday and we have received quite a bit of snow in the last week.  I heard lots of bombs going off at Schweitzer Monday - Wednesday.”

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog